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Hello I am working on what I have dubbed my practice bucket. I Am working on a Don post 1995 that has been collecting dust on top of a bookcase since I purchased it in 1995. This project is mostly just to get used to different media and technique that I will later use to modify and finish a more high quality helmet. I have a few questions before I get started so that I do not make a mess of it from the very beginning.

1. What type of paints are safe to use one this project. I read somewhere (i can't find the thread now) that some paints will not dry properly thus leaving a sticky surface.

2. I've noticed that the back of my helmet is sunken in a bit on one side. My thought on fixing that was to heat it up with a heat gun then use something flat from the inside to push it into the correct shape. Is this a viable plan?

If there is already a tutorial for this and someone wouldnt mind droping me a link I would appreciate it.

I would use hot water to reshape it. I used to work on DP '95s all the time and it worked like a charm. Run a sink full of cold water to dip the helmet into after you have dipped it in the hot water and reshaped it. This will help it hold it's new shape quickly. I also use spray paints on my helmets and have never had any problem with them adhering to the vinyl DP's. You may want to get a primer for plastic and give the helmet a coat first. You can find it in the spray paint section of Lowe's.

I'm doing exactly the same thing to a DP'95 I bought a few months ago. I also had to reshape the helmet but I fiberglass the inside so it would hold better the new shape. I'm starting the painting process now and so far I've had no problems with spray paints... I did primer the helmet first like AFFOD says.

Thanks for the tips I really appreciate the help. I'd not have thought of using hot water to re shape that's awesome. Quick question on that though by hot are we talking boiling or just out of the tap hot?